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A friend just posted on Facebook a poster with two images of the earth from space. The left earth image is one that has the green of vegitation covering the eastern half of the North American continent and the orange, tan color of the western side, much like the color of the topographic maps. Then the right image shows the entire USA area as tan and orange color – with the phrase printed across the length, such as: “From forests to deserts in just 34 years.” Centered at the top was a yellow sad face.

I couldn’t help commenting in return about that post. I wrote, “This is a myth and untrue. You are perpetrating this delusion and myth by recycling these “photoshopped” comparisons. Humans are not causing climate change.” I suppose there are many who would not agree with my comment.

Certain forests have had a history of decline, not attributed to logging, included in Europe and the Americas. An example is the red spruce decline in the 1870s and 1880s. Turns out it was an insect, a certain type beetle infestation. Acid rain and ozone studies have been done and were inconclusive. Trees are living things and not immortal, and may go through phases of plant succession. Trees have died with no pollution causes.

I urge anyone interesting in getting a handle on this issue to read CLIMATE CONFUSION by Roy W. Spencer, Encounter Books, 2008, ISBN 13: 978-1-59403-210-3. Dr. Spencer is a climatologist.

And, the atmosphere, if anything is certain, is a complex chemical process. While Dr. Spencer points out that much is not known yet on the many factors that cause cloud formation. It is known that microscopic particles, condensation nucleii, are needed in order for clouds to form. This cloud formation, globally, allows for reflective cooling of the earth surface. Local and State air pollution districts want completely clean air. While that is an impossibility, it raises the question. If the air was completely free of these particles would that cause less or no cloud formation and therefore more earth warming?

Dr. Spencer questions what motivates politicians and environmentalists who “advocate policies that are doomed to failure but also hurt so many other people.”

Another eye opening read: “State of Fear” by the late Michael Chrichton. You don’t have to read the novel. Just read and follow the message, appendix, comments, and bibliography in the back. Yes a bibliography at the end of a novel. A huge study of the issues of science, government, and politics. Published by Harper Collins, 2004, ISBN-10: 0-06-621413-0.

July 1, 2011, there was a pipeline break in Montana which caused a spill of crude oil into the Yellowstone River. I didn’t recall hearing or reading about this in the news at the time. I did read about it from the oil company publication later. The exact cause of the break was not given. I looked up some articles which were directly about the spill but contained no information on what caused the break in the pipe. The closest article found was online at a “switchboard.nrdc blog” about this spill and the implication being, to not support the Keystone XL pipeline project. I commented on the switchboard site, the following in order to see if there would be a response to my question. …

“Thanks for this piece on Silvertip pipeline spill. I cannot find any reference to a cause of the pipe failure; other than yours alluding to the pumping of the “tar sands crude” causing more than usual “wear” on the pipe. Is there any published data on the exact cause of the pipe break? Supposedly the pipe had been inspected by regulators just prior to the break.”